Find a Tip! [Tip Locater Index] Updated  April 16, 2003


PCWriter's Find A Tip!

By Tom Bair ( PCWriter)

Tips are prefaced with the applicable Operating System designation. They are as follows:

[95] = Windows 95 [98] = Windows 98 [SE] = Windows 98 Second Edition
[NT] = Windows Next Technology [2K] = Windows 2000
[ME] = Windows Millennium Edition [XP] = Windows XP [ALL] = All Versions

Please note that this designation does not necessarily mean that the particular tip will only
work on that version of Windows. It only shows that I have tested that tip on the Windows
version listed in the designation. -- Tom Bair

Index of Tips

Activate Mouse Sonar [95/98/SE] (Making it easier to spot your mouse pointer)
Activating Thumbnail view [98] (See Thumbnails of all graphic files in Windows Explorer)
Add History List to Start Menu [98] (Quickly access a web site from a drop-down list)
Add New Hardware Bug [98] (Some PCs lock up when using this Control Panel icon)
Add Skins to Media Player [ME/XP] (Change the on-screen look of Media Player)
Add Your Photo To Your User Account [XP] (Personalize your XP user logon)
Adding Sound To ToggleKeys [98] (Generate a sound when CAPS and NUMLOCK key are hit)
Adjust Cursor Blink Rate [95/98/SE] (Speed up or slow down your cursor's blink rate)
Adjust IP Packet Size [98/SE/ME] (Increase your online performance using larger packet sizes)
Adjust Text With Mouse Wheel [ME/XP/2K] (Make use of your mouse wheel)
Adjusting Double-click speed [95/98] (Adjust your mouse's double-click speed)
Adjusting Keyboard Options [98/SE/ME/XP] (A couple of keyboard options to adjust to suit your preference)
Alter My Documents Path [98] (Store your documents in a new default folder)
Altered Floppy Disks [98] (How to keep W98 from altering your floppys)
Application Key on Windows Keyboard [95/98/SE/ME/NT/2K/XP] (Explaining what this key does)
Avoid Running Virus Code [SE/ME/2K/XP] (Change default to see complete filename of an attachment)

Back Up Recent Files [95/98/SE/ME/XP] (Back up only the files you have accessed during the day)
Backing Up Favorites Folder [95/98] (How to back up this folder to floppy disk)
Baseline Security Analyzer [XP/2K] (An update of this tool which compliments Windows Update is now available)
BlackICE Defender Bug Report [ALL] (A fix for Ping Flood attacks)
Booting PC to MS-DOS [98/SE] [98/SE](Using TweakUI to boot directly to DOS)
Booting To MS-DOS Prompt [98] (How to boot your PC directly to MS-DOS)
Booting To MS-DOS Update [98] (Alternative method of booting PC directly to MS-DOS)
Burn Your Own CDs [XP] (How to copy CDs in Windows XP)

Calculator Help [98/SE/ME/XP] (Get breif descriptions of calculator function keys)
Cancel Print Job [95/98/SE] (How to cancel both active and pending print outs)
CD Burner Patch [XP] (A problem with XP's built-in burning software)
Change Default CD Player [95/98/SE/ME] (Switch back to the original Windows CD Player)
Change DOS Prompt Path [95/98/SE] (Have your DOS prompt start in the hard drive root directory)
Change File Associations [95/98] (Have files open in your favorite application instead of the default)
Change Focal Point of Explorer [95/98/SE/ME/XP] (Make entire PC system as the focal point of Explorer)
Change Item Color [95/98/SE/ME] (Change the color of your text when highlighted)
Change MS WORD's Paste Key [95/98/SE/ME/XP/NT/2K/XP] (Use the INSERT key to paste text in Word)
Change Your Password [98/SE/ME] (How to change your password in Windows)
Changing Desktop Wallpaper [95/98/SE] (How to make your own desktop image)
Check W95 For Corrupted Files [95] (How to use a System File Checker in Windows 95)
Clean Your Mouse [ALL] (Get rid of the 'screen skips')
Cleaning Your Root Directory [95/98] (Delete unneeded and nonessential files)
Cleanup QuickLaunch Toolbar [SE/ME] (How to remove icons from QuickLaunch Toolbar)
ClearType Screen Fonts [XP] (How to activate ClearType Fonts)
Clearing Your Run Menu [95] (How to clear the 'Most Recently Run' listings from Run Menu)
Clipboard Viewer on Desktop [98/SE/ME] (Place a shortcut to Clipboard Viewer on your desktop)
Compress Files and Folders [XP] (Using XP's new zip compression utility)
Configure AutoPlay [XP] (Select XP's action when inserting a CD into the drive)
Control Panel Menu [95] (Put W95 Control Panel on Start menu)
Correct Shut Down Procedure [95/98/SE/ME] (How to correctly shut down your PC)
Create MS-DOS Startup Disk [XP] (Make a bootable DOS Startup Disk)
Creating File Associations [95/98] (Associate unknown type files to the applications which use them)
Creating Passwords [ALL] (Advice on how to come up with a password)
Creating Passwords Update [ALL] (Reader's advice on generating passwords)

Defective Mouse Drivers [98] (Upgrade for wheel mouse)
Definition Of Desktop [ALL] (Layman's explanation of the term DESKTOP)
Definition Of GUI [ALL] (Layman's explanation of the term GUI)
Defrag Multiple Hard Drives [98] (How to defrag multiple hard drives on your PC)
Defragment your Hard Drive [95/98] (How to defrag the hard drive so programs run faster)
Delete MSN Desktop Icon [98/SE] (Windows makes it easy to remove the unwanted icon)
Deleting Temp Files [95] (Clear up space on your hard drive by deleting temp files)
Desktop Email Shortcut [98/SE/ME] (Send email by clicking on a desktop icon)
Desktop in the Start Menu [95] (How to access your desktop with multiple open windows in W95)
Desktop Notes [95/98/NT] (Place stick-up notes on your Desktop)
Device Manager Desktop Shortcut [98/SE/ME] (Place the Device Manager directly on your Desktop)
Device Manager Hotkey [98/SE/ME] (A keyboard hotkey to access the Device Manager)
Device Manager Shortcut [98/SE/ME] (Place the Device Manager on your Start menu)
Dialog Menu [95/98/NT] (Delete files from Windows application 'Open' menu)
Directory/Folder Lister [95/98/SE/ME] (An interesting batch program)
Disable Balloon Tips [XP] (Turn off those annoying balloon notes that appear in the task tray)
Disable CD AutoPlay [95/98] (How to permanently disable CD AutoPlay)
Disable Floppy Drive Seek [95/98/SE/ME] (Stop Windows from searching for new floppy drives on boot-up)
Disable LMHosts Lookup [XP/2K] (Speed up the time it takes for apps to open)
Disable StickyKeys [XP] (How to turn off StickyKeys in Windows XP)
Disable Task Scheduler [98/SE] [For 95, see Remove Task Scheduler]
Disable Windows Animation [95] (Speed up Windows a bit by turning off Animation)
Disable XP AutoDial [XP] (How to keep XP from automatically connecting to the Internet)
Disable XP Startup Screen [XP] (Have XP boot up without seeing the Splash Screen)
Disable Your Screen Saver [95/98/SE] (How to disable the Screen Saver while defragging the hard drive)
Disable Your Screen Saver - 2 [95/98/SE/ME] (Alter your Registry settings to turn on/off the Screen Saver)
Discerning Future Dates [95/98] (Using Windows Calendar to look up dates/days)
Display Comments in Explorer [ME] (Show Word and Excel file desciptions in Windows Explorer)
Display Full Path in Title [95/98/SE] (Display full path of file in Windows Explorer)
Documents Menu [95/98/NT](Remove selected items from Documents List)
DOS Diskcopy Command [98] (Make multiple disk copies from memory)
DOS from a Hotkey [95/98] (Set up a two key stroke on keyboard to access the MS-DOS prompt)
Double-click into Single-click [98] (How to activate single-click in W98)
DVD in Windows 98 [98] (Install DVD player application)

Easy Drive Access [95/98/SE] (Place your drive icons on the Start button)
Empty Your Browser Cache [95/98/SE] (Keep people from knowing where on the web you've been)
Enable ME's DMA support [ME] (Fix this omission by Microsoft for improved drive performance)
Enabling 2K Mouse Wheel [2K] (Do not install the drivers that come with your mouse)
Enlarge Web Print [ALL] (How to in Internet Explorer 6)
Explorer: Multiple File Tagging [95] (Manipulate more than one file at a time in Explorer)
Extending Laptop Usage [95/98/SE] (How to extend your laptop's battery life)

Faster Backup [95] (Minimize Windows Backup Utility for a faster backup)
Faster File/Folder Move [95/98/SE/ME] (Using the 'Send-To' option in Windows Explorer)
Faster Rebooting [95] (Start|Shut down, hold shift key)
Fax Software Doesn't Work[SE] (What to do in case FAX software doesn't work)
File Checker Bug [98](Microsoft has discovered a bug…)
File Delete In DOS [ALL] (Files are permanently deleted)
Find & Remove Dead Shortcuts [98] (Use the 'Link Check Wizard' to remove dead Shortcuts from your desktop)
Find Function Hot Key [95/98/SE](Use a hot key to access the Find function)
Firewalls [ALL] (Zone Labs offers a free firewall)
Finding Files [95/98] (Using the Find utility to locate files and folders)
Fixing Network Data Loss [95/98/SE](Try this trick if losing data over a network connection)
Folder Properties Security Tab [XP] (Access the Security tab in Folder Properties on an NTFS volume)
Folder View Consistency [XP] (Make all your folders appear just like your favorite one)
Folder-Viewing Options [98/SE/ME] (Choose from 3 different ways of viewing your folders)
Folders Open in 2-Paned View [98/SE](Change Explorer's default to open in a 2-Paned view)
Font Sizes with Wheel Mouse [98/SE/ME/2K] (How to change your font size using a wheel mouse)
Forcing Boot up to Safe Mode [95/98/SE/ME/XP] (Force Windows into Safe Mode during boot up)
Forward E-mail In OE [ALL] (Share messages between two OE6 accounts)
Forward E-mail Update [ALL] (Another excellent solution from reader Mark McCorkle)
Freaky Easter Egg [95/98/SE/ME/XP/2K] (Twisted sort of Easter Egg in your Word Processor)
FREE Win 98 Resource Kit [98](Find it on the Windows 98 Installation CD)

Gain More Disk Space [95] (Free up 7 MB by deleting AVI Help files)

Handling Program Hang-ups [95/98](How to shut down a malfunctioning program)
Hard Drive Labels [95/98/SE](How to change Hard Drive volume labels)
Hardware Configuration Menu [95/98/SE] (Force Windows to display this Menu during bootup)
Have ME's Explorer Open in My Computer [ME] (Set Explorer to open in 'My Computer' instead of 'My Documents')
Hibernate Mode [ME/XP] (Place your desktop computer in Hibernate Mode)
Hide Desktop Icons [98/SE](Using TweakUI to rid your desktop of unused icons)
Hide Font Variations [95/98/SE] (How to hide variations of each font listed in the Fonts folder)
Hide the Taskbar [95/98/NT] (Enable Auto-Hide)
Hotkey for System Properties [95/98](The fastest way to access the System Properties Menu)
How Does PA Work? [XP] (Explanation of how Windows Product Activation works)
HP Printer Cable Recall [ALL] (Safety recall notice on Longwell "LS-7C" power cords)

Improve NTFS Performance [NT] (Turn off LastAccess to speed up drive performance)
Increase Windows Font Size [98/SE/ME] (Increase the text size in your folder windows)
Install CAB Files on Hard Drive [95/98](Place your Windows Installation CD on your Hard Drive)
Install XP's Firewall [XP] (Activate the free firewall inside Windows XP)
Installing TweakUI [98](How to put this useful tweaking utility into your Control Panel)
Instant Desktop Access [98](How to use the Show Desktop icon on the QuickLaunch Toolbar)
Internet Address Toolbar [98] (How to activate W98 I.A.T. on Taskbar)

Keep Modem Speaker Quiet [95/98/SE] (How to silence a noisy modem)
Keep Windows Media Player Up-to-Date [XP] (Discover which version you currently have)
Keyboard shortcuts [95/98](for Minimize, Restore, and Close commands of an active Window)
Keyboard-Eject A CD [ALL] (Use your keyboard to open the CD-ROM tray)
Klez Virus Ploy [ALL] (A reported method to prevent Outlook & Express from being infected)

Laptop External Keyboard [ALL] (You need to install the keyboard driver to use extended keys)
Line Up Desktop Icons [95/98](A command to line up icons in straight rows and columns)
Line Up Icons To Right [95/98/SE](Placing all icons to the right side of your desktop)
Locate Dead Links in Favorites [XP/2K] (Locate dead links quickly and easily)
Locate Desktop Icon by Keystroke [95/98/SE](Using keyboard to locate desktop icons)
Locating the Product Key [98](Where to find it in the Registry)
Lock Your Desktop [XP] (Two methods of locking your desktop)
Lock Your Workstation [NT](Keep others from accessing your NT workstation)
Locked Admin Account [XP,2K] (Unlock an accidentally locked account)
Locking the Taskbar in Place [ME] (Avoid resizing or relocating your Taskbar)
Log Off Prompt [95/98] (Getting rid of 'Log Off [name]')
Logitech Scanman Bug [ALL](A glitch in the driver of the handheld units)

Make Laptop Buttons Bigger [98/SE/ME] (Enlarge the Minimize, Restore, and Close buttons)
Making a Boot Disk [98](How to make a new Boot Disk for Windows 98)
Maximizing Windows Explorer [ME] (How to open Explorer in full screen view)
Media Player Auto Repeat (How to set Media Player to play in a continuous loop until stopped)
Memory Upgrade [95] (reinstall W95 when upping from 4 MB)
Menu Command Dilemma [ 95/98/SE/ME/2K/XP] (Results of accidently pressing the ALT key)
Menu Drop-Down Delay [95] (How to make menus appear instantly)
Modem Handshake Time [95/98](Try this if you are frequently being disconnected during dialup)
Modems with V-mail Systems [98/SE/ME] (Set your modem to recognize a Voicemail enabled phone's dial tone)
Modify XP's DIR Command [XP] (Get a true directory listing via the Command Prompt)
Move Files in Explorer [95](Have Explorer move a file instead of just copying it)
MSN Messenger Update [XP] (A fix of the Remove MSN Messenger tip)

Network Config on XP Pro [XP] (XP automatically configures for a network)
Network Neighborhood Icon [95/98](Getting rid of it)
Networking Auto-Redial [98] (How to turn on this W98 feature)
No Hot-Swapping In NT4 [NT] (Why NT does not support hot-swapping of PC Card/PCMCIA devices)
Not Falling Back [95/98] (Disable Daylight Savings Time)
Norton LiveUpdate Fix [ME/XP] (Update your virus definitions via online after installing a firewall)

One Click Closes All Windows [95/98](How to close all open windows at once)
One-Step Restarts [95] (Reboot entire system by clicking on icon)
Online User's Guide [95/98](Windows Online User's Guide manual on your PC)
Open Folder from DOS [95/98/SE/ME] (How to open a Folder Window from the current DOS directory)
Optimize Printer Spool [95/98](Configure your Print Spooler to fit your style)

Pagefile.sys And Hiberfil.sys [XP] (How to remove these two paging files)
Password a Shared Folder [XP] (A few tricks to use...)
Password Protect OE Identity [ALL] (Impose a password on Outlook Express 6)
Phone Dialer History List [98/SE/ME] (How to edit the history list of last 20 numbers called)
Print a Folder Listing [95/98/NT](Print out contents of a folder via DOS)
Print a Folder Listing (Update) [95/98/NT](Update of alternate method to above tip)
Print Contents of Folders [95/98](Place a PRINT command in the Explorer's command menu)
Print Screen [95] (How to print the contents of your monitor screen)
Printer and DUN Menu [95/98](Add these to the top of your Start Menu)
Printer Troubleshooter (W95 Enhanced Printer Troubleshooter utility)
Programs At Top Of Start Menu [XP] (Make programs stay on the Start Menu's Top Area permanently)

Quick Format a Floppy [95/98](How to quickly format a floppy disk in Windows)
Quick Launch Control Panel [98/SE](Place all your Control Panel applets into a QuickLaunch Toolbar)
Quick Launch Icon Properties [98](How to alter the properties for full-screen mode)

Reactivate XP After Install [XP] (Activate XP without having to re-register it)
Reassign Setup CD-ROM [98](Change the default drive letter of your Installation CD-ROM)
Recover A Missing Task Bar [95/98/SE/ME] (Recover taskbar that has been set below bottom of screen)
Reduce Start Menu Size [98/SE](Making the Start Menu smaller)
Register Without Registering [98/SE] (How to trick your OS into thinking it is registered)
Regurgitated graphics from past Operating Systems [98] (A Windows 98 visual blooper)
Reinstall XP Files [XP] (reinstall your XP files without overwriting your registry)
Remove Auto Arrange Option [95/98/SE](Turn off this desktop icon function to keep things in place)
Remove Automatic Update [XP] (Completely remove the Auto Update component)
Remove Commands [95/98/SE/ME] (Remove unwanted commands from Context Menus)
Remove Dial-Up Icon [95/98](Remove Dial-Up icon in taskbar tray)
Remove Documents List [98](Two methods of removing Documents List from the Start menu)
Remove Favorites [98](Removing IE's Favorites folder from Start menu)
Remove Find Fast [Office](Removing Find Fast feature from StartUp folder)
Remove MSN Messenger [XP] [Please see the updated tip, MSN Messenger Update]
Remove Personalized Menus [ME] (Remove your most frequently used items listing on Start Menu)
Remove Splash Screen in OE6 [ME] (Get rid of Outlook Express's opening screen)
Remove Splash Screen in OE6 Correction [XP] (Instructions for XP)
Remove Start Menu programs [95/98](How to remove any item from your Start Menu)
Remove Task Scheduler [95](Remove Windows 95 Task Scheduler from your Taskbar tray)
Remove the Windows Stripe [98](Remove the W98 logo stripe from Start menu)
Removing Boot Track Viruses [95/98/SE/ME/XP] (How to remove a Boot Track virus from your PC)
Removing Online Services [98](Free up disk space by removing several Online Services Wizards)
Removing "Shortcut to" arrows from icons [95] (Remove those curvy arrows from the bottom of icons)
Removing "Shortcut to" Text [95] (…from your Desktop Shortcut icon names)
Removing the Blink in Cursor [95/98](Set your cursor not to blink at all)
Removing the Speaker [95] (Remove the yellow speaker icon from your Taskbar tray)
Rename "My Computer' [95/98/NT](Using F2 to rename shortcut icon)
Renaming Digital Image Files [XP] (Rename a group of pictures in sequence with a familiar file name)
Renaming the Recycle Bin [95] (Rename this icon to a phrase of your own choice)
Replacing SYSOC.INF File [XP] (How to replace this file if you accidently delete it)
Resource Summary Report [95/98](3 page detailed report of your PC)
Restore Cascading Menus [98/SE/ME] (Write a REG file to display Cascading Menus off your Start button)
Restore JPG Thumbnail View [98/SE/ME] (Restore Thumbnail view in folders after installing QuickTime Viewer)
Restore Share Tab in Folder Properties [XP] (XP makes the share option invisible by default - get it back)
Restore Your Registry [98](Restoring a backup of your registry from DOS)
Restoring Toolbar Commands [98](When Toolbar options are grayed out…)
Restrict User Logon Times [XP] (Restrict when a user may log on)

Saving Update Patches [95/98/SE/ME/XP/2K] (Save all updates/patches from MS website to your hard drive)
Saving Update Patches - Update [95/98/SE/ME/XP/2K] (How to 'batch-download' updates/patches)
'Scare-Scam' e-mail [ALL] (Warning not to fall for it)
Screen Saver Privacy [98/SE](Placing screen saver on the Quick Launch Bar)
Searching Multiple CDs [95/98/SE/ME/2K/XP] (Refresh your drive contents after inserting new CD)
Secure Your PC [2K] (Lock your computer so others can't snoop)
Set Up PC Cards for NT [NT](…if your system dual boots with Windows 98)
Setting Global Folder Options [98/SE/ME/XP] (Quickly set the same view options for all folders)
Show all Files in Explorer [95/98](How to display hidden files in Explorer)
Show Desktop Icon Tip [98/SE/ME/XP] (How to use the 'Show Desktop' icon in Quick Launch Toolbar)
Show Location of CAB Files [95/98](Modify SourcePath to show hard drive location of CAB files)
Show When Accessed [XP] (Add a 'last accessed' column to Details view of Explorer)
Shut Down Icon on Desktop [95/98] (Shut down your computer by clicking on icon)
Shut Off Error Reporting [XP] (How to shut off Windows Error Reporting Routine)
Single-click Menu Items [98/SE/ME] (How to single-click on cascading menu items)
Sort Programs Alphabetically [98/SE/ME] (How to sort your Start menu's Programs folder in alphabetical order)
Specify A Download Directory [95/98/SE/NT] (Have your download saved to a folder instead of being opened)
Speed Up CD Access [95/98](How to make double-speed CD-ROMs run faster)
Speed Up Comm Ports [98/SE/ME/2K/XP] (A few tricks to speed up your Communications Ports)
Speed Up Dial-Up [98](Speed up access to your ISP)
Speed Up the Start Menu [XP] (Decrease the delay time when clicking on the Start button)
Start Menu programs Update [95/98] (A 3-step process to remove programs from the Start menu)
Start Menu Sorts [ME] (Automatically sort program listings in alphabetical order)
Stop CD Autoplay [95/98] (How to disable current CD only)
Stop WEBPOPUP spam ads [ALL] (Kill those Messenger spam ads before they pop up)
Sulfnbk.exe Virus Hoax [98/SE/ME] (A hoax advises you to delete a legit Windows file - the fix, if you do)
Support Company Logo [95] (Have your Company Logo and Support info show on your desktop)

Taking out the Trash [95/98/NT](Tips on using the Recycle Bin)
Task Manager Shortcut [95](How to get a Show Desktop Quick Launch in W95)
Taskbar Calendar [95/98/SE/ME/NT/2K/XP] (How to see a monthly calendar from your Taskbar)
Temporarily Disable Startup Programs [95/98/SE/ME] (Simple way to keep programs from loading during startup)
Text To Speech [XP] (Want XP to read dialog boxes to you?)
The Registry Checker [98](W98 utility scans and backs up your registry)
ThemeXP Website [95/98/SE/ME/XP/2K](Best website of the month award.)
Thumbnail Without Names [2K/XP] (Increase display area by removing names from thumbnails)
Turn off "Click Here to Begin" [98](Use TweakUI to turn off this annoying bouncing arrow)
Turn Off NUMLOCK [95/98/SE] (Two methods of turning off the NUMLOCK key during bootup)
Turn Off Password [98](Disable bootup password in W98)
Two-Tone Title Bars [98/SE/ME/XP](Customize the look of Windows Title Bars)

Unconfigure Your Modem [2K] (Configure an NT-set modem for 2K)
Un-defaulting AOL5 [98/SE](How to make AOL5 not the default dial-up)
Untitled Desktop Icons [95/98](How to remove the names under your Desktop icons)
Unwanted Startup Apps [95/98](3 places to look for the reference to delete)
Using Your Own Sounds [95/98/SE/ME/2K/XP] (Use your own sounds for Windows events)

Vertical Taskbar [95/98/NT](How to make your Taskbar vertical)
View Entire Icon Name [95/98/SE/ME/2K/XP] (How to see full names of desktop icons)
Virus Alert - August 2002 [ALL] (General update)
Virus Alert - September 2002 [ALL] (Bad boy KLEZ virus update)
Virus Via E-mail [ALL](Hackers sending file attachments claimed to be Microsoft Updates)

Web Site Trace Route [95/98](Discover the path you take to get from your ISP to a web page)
Where's That Note? [95/98] (Annotate the Help file)
Where's That Note Again [NT] (Attach Electronic Stick-On Notes to NT's Help pages)
Wider Window Borders [95/98](Create thicker Window borders for easier grabbing and resizing)
Win98 Corrupts Micronics [98](Advisory on installing Windows 98 with this motherboard)
Win98 Find Bug [98/SE](A bug in the Windows 98 Find function)
Window Arranging Options [95/98](How to open multiple windows in 1 of 3 layouts)
Windows 2000 Resource Kit [2K] (How to access the Resource Kit for Windows 2000)
Windows 3.X File Manager [95/98/SE] (Windows File Manager is waiting right on your hard drive)
Windows 95 Y2K Problems [95](Where to download fixes)
Windows 98 Service Pack [98](W98 SP1 due out in Jan. 99)
Windows XP PowerToys [XP] (Download this free collection of utilities)
WordPad Print Problem [95/98/SE](How to do a partial print in WordPad)

XP Easter Eggs [XP] (Why you won't see any)
XP Volume Control [XP] (Put the little speaker icon back on the taskbar)